Equilateral triangular billiard and pool tables



Feb. 2, 1960 H. SANTIAGO 2,923,546

EQUILATERALTRIANGULAR" BILLIARD AND POOL TABLES Filed Nov. 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In l .L 11 1 62 K 50 INVENTOR. $1.3. HERMINIO SANTlAGO 5 BY H. SANTIAGO Feb. 2, 1960 EQUILATERAL TRIANGULAR BILLIARD AND POOL TABLES Filed Nov. 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HERMINIO SANTIAGO ATTORNEY United m P en 9 2,923,546 EQUILATERAL TRIANGULAR BILLIARD AND POOL TABLES Herminio Santiago, Bronx, N.Y.

Application November 5, 1958, Serial No. 771,980 2 Claims. 01. 273-4) This invention relates generally to gaming tables and,

It is an object of the present invention to provide a convertible table on which both pool andbilliards can beplayed as desired.

A specific object is to provide a table that is readily convertible for use either as a pool table or ,a billiard table.

Another object of the invention is to provide an equilateral triangular table for selectively playing either pool or billiards.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more'particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part ofthis disclosure: p

F Fig. 1'is a plan view of a table embodying my invention in use as a-pooltable.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation as viewed, along the line 22 ofFig. 1. a a Fig.3 is an enlarged cross's'ection' taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the table.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the table converted for use in playing billiards.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the pocket closure device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a table 10 embodying the invention is shown as comprising a thick flat slab 12 of triangular shape, fixed horizontally on legs L. The slab is preferably formed of Wood, slate, stone or any other suitable material and has a smooth, level rolling top surface, preferably covered with any suitable fabric 14, such as felt, smoothly drawn without wrinkles and secured in position in any suitable manner. The legs L are preferably formed of wood.

Rails 13, 15 and 16, preferably of wood, are fastened to the sides of the slab by adhesive or the like and extend above the top surface of the slab as indicated at 18, thereby fencing in the top surface thereof. The end meeting edges of the rails are secured to each other by adhesive or the like, forming mitre joints between the rails.

At each corner of the slab 12, the portions 18 of the side rails extending above the top surface of the slab 2,923,546 V Patented Feb. 2,1960

have their end meeting. edges cut away as indicated at 24. The corners of the slab 12 are similarly cut away asindicated at 26, the cut away portions facing each other and forming corner pockets 28. Midway the corners, the extending portion 18 of each rail is similarly cut away as indicated at 30, and the adjacent side edge of the slab is cut away as indicated at 32, the cut away portions facing each other and forming side pockets 34. The cut away portions. forming the corner and side pockets extend downwardly to a point remote from the bottoms oftthe slab and side rails.

Each of the side rails 13, 15, 16 is formed with a dove-' tail groove 36 along the inner surface thereof and lining each groove 36 is a sheet metal lining 38. Midway be tween each side pocket 34 and each end pocket 28, the material of the protruding portion 18 ofeach rail is bored, providing a hole 40 extending from the outer surface to the groove 36 in the inner surface of the rail. The hole is counterbored around its outer opening providing an elongated countersunk groove 42 on the outer surface of the rail.

A strip of rubber, triangular in cross section, constituting an elastic cushion 44, is slidably mounted in the lining 38 on each side rail, with its apical end 46 projecting outwardly of the groove and inwardly of the rail, over the top surface of the slab. The apical end 46 of the strip is 'covered. with fabric material 48 similar to the material on the top surface of the slab. The rubber strip is gripped between the sides of a flanged base plate 50. of dovetail shape in cross section, slidably fitted in the groove. The cushion'is secured in the groove 36 by means of a headedbolt 52, the threaded shank'54 of which extends through the hole 42 in the-rail 16 and through a-threaded hole 56 in the base plate 50. The head of the bolt is positioned in the countersunk groove 42. Eachbase plate 50' is provided with a pair of such holes 56, the holes beingclosely spaced from each other.-

The ends of the cushions 44 are beveled and terminate at the ends of the side and end pockets 'leavinga clear-- ance in front of each pocket to allow the balls to roll into thepocket. .i I

The slab 12 is formed with a main gutter or runway 60adjacent the lower surface thereof, extending-from the pocket28 at the apical ,endto the side pocket 34 at thediametrically opposite side thereof, in rail 13, the gutter slanting downwardly from the end pocket to the side pocket 34. Branch gutters 62 extend downwardly from the other corner pockets 28 to and communicate with the adjacent end of the main gutter 60. Similar branch gutters 64 extend downwardly from the side pockets 34 inside rails 15 and 16 to and communicate with the main gutter. A recess is formed in the rail 13 at the inter section of the main gutter 60 and the side pocket 34, in communication with the end of the gutter, and mounted in said recess below said intersection is a flanged pan 66 for receiving the balls that roll into the main gutter from the pockets.

In Fig. l, the table 10 is shown arranged for use in playing pool or pocket billiards, with playing balls 67 racked in position thereupon within a rack 69 preparatory to play. The invention, however, contemplates the conversion of the table for use in playing the game of billiards wherein the player impels the ball so that it will carom upon two other balls,'wherein the cushions are continuous and wherein no pockets are needed, such as shown in Fig. 5. For this purpose, a plurality of cushion inserts or units indicated generally at 70 are provided. Each cushion insert or unit 70 includes a short length of rubber 72, similar in shape to the strips constituting the cushions 44. The ends of the length of rubber 72 are beveled in directions opposed to the directions of beveling.

of the ends of the cushions 44 so that the apical end of the length of rubber 72 is longer than the base portion thereof. The length of rubber 72 is covered by a cover of fabric 74 similar toithe fabric covers o'fi thejcushions 4.4. A flanged base plate 76- reinforc'es the base portion of the rubber 72"anda sirnilar flanged' plate- 78 isl sleeved over the plate 76; An inverted .U-shaped clamp 80' is yieldingly connected to? the flanged plate 78 in: spaced relation thereto by means of a cornpressioncoil: spring 82 interposed' between the plate and clamp, with one end anchored. to 2. lug 841 embedded in the plate 78 andtwithits other end securedto: a pin 86'secured toclamp 80.

In order to convert the table" for use inplaying' billiards, the bolts 52 are loosened from the' base plate 50 and the cushions 44 with th'ebase plates are slid along the grooves 36 to thecor ners' of the table wherethe adjacent beveled edgeso'f the cushions will meet face to face to. form mitre joints thereat and to cover the entr'an'ces of the corner pockets. The cushions 44 ar'e each secured in moved adjusted. position by threading the bolt 52: into the other threaded hole 56 in thebase plate 50 which is now aligned with the bolt. The separation of the'cushions widens. the gaps between the opposite endsof the cushions adjacent the side pockets 341 In order 1 to fill the resulting :gap? at each side pocket, a cushion;

insert or unit 70 is. positioned between the adjacent ends of the cushions 44. This is accomplished by slipping the U+shaped clamp 80' downwardly over the, topedge of the side. rail so that the end edges of the length of'rubber 72 fits between. and engages 'the end edges oftHeIadjacent cushions 44 thereby closing the gapfthereat The beveled; end edges" of the cushions 44' coacting withthe beveled end ofthe insert or unit70 holdthe'in'e sent or unit 70' against outwardly actin'g forcest 1 The ins'erts, or units are held against inward acting" forces {by the springs 82 andthe clamps 8 While I have tillu'strated a'nd described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I I do not limitrnyself to'the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined-in the appended claims.

.Hav'ing thus described my invention, what-I clainr as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patcut is: 7 1. A convertible game table comprisinga triangular thereof, a fabficcovering over the top surface of said slab, said covered surface constituting a playing surface,

rails secured to the sides of said slab and protruding ets, saidslab havinga recess in one side thereof below one end of the main gutter, a pan mounted in said recess, the open top of said pan communicating with the adjacent end of the maingutter for receiving balls from said main gutter, an elastic cushion slidably mounted on the inner surface of each rail between each pair of pockets therealong, the ends of-the cushions adjacent the corner pockets adapted to cover the corner pockets when in moved position, the opposite ends of said cushions being spaced apart when in moved. position, cushion inserts detachably mounted onthe side rails and closing the spaces "between said; other oppositeaends of the cushions when the cushions are in moved position, and means forpositively' retaining said cushioni inserts inisaid spaces including base plates on the cushion inserts and inverted U- s'hape'd clamps yieldingly carried'by the base plates.

a 2. "In a combined pool and billiard table; a removable cushion insert similar in cross section to the cushion or the table, saidtinsert including a short length of solid? rubber and a flanged base plate: therefor, and means for i 1 positively retaining said insert in the pocket opening of References Cited in the filetof this patent UNITED: STATES PATENTS j p r 826,088 July'17, 1906{ 335,177; Callahan,, 1 Nov.:6, 1906 1,119,160, .nec, 1,1914 1,157,940, Hjort Oct. 26;,1915 1;, 1,625,265 Malloy A r. 19,1921 1 1,693,116; .Lee Nov. 27,1928 1,894,989 Hansen 1 ,;:Jan. V24; 1933;

'FOREIGNPATENTS 1 3 85 reat Bri i 4 06" Shaped slab, legs supporting said slab at thecorners thecus'hio'n of the table, said means comprising a lug embedded in the plate, and an inverted ,U-shaped clamp connected to said-lug; said! connection including a coil spn'n'ginterposed betweenthe lug and clampwithone end anchored in the lug and its other end secured'toa pinin the clamp. 1 V 

